12-  Sat, 8 May 2010

Ram:

You are right, a SS number is not compulsory in US.  If one wants to live outside of regular society, like some religious groups such as the Amish, one can get by without one.  However, nearly everyone in the US has one and that led me to believe that it was a requirement before your questioning.  Thanks to your insistence, I have learned something.  Copied below is part of what the Wikipedia says.  More can seen at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_number .

Regards,

Rajaram, IITM